Chapter 35: Chapter 35

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Forbes thought the council meeting was going on smoothly until Elder Chopra raised the question about Jamal's health. "With all due respect my king.." Chopra started. "Right from the start we have all been faithful to you, always with you in every step you take" the council members murmured in agreement.

"But I think you are cutting us out of some things, as at of last week I heard that the Prince was on his sick bed,unconscious for a day and a half because of some unseen circumstances beyond your control but unfortunately we the elders didn't hear from you, so we all demand an explanation.. Right my people?"

"Yes" the other elders affirmed. Forbes sighed glancing at Jamal who was sitting beside him but Jamal only stated ahead not even sparing him a glance. As Forbes started to speak Abu the diviner walked in, everyone gasped as he entered.. The diviner never attends the council meeting except on special occasions.

Abu studied the whole room and smiled wryly. "Traitors, your highness... Beware" he said.

Forbes stared at him confused, while the whole room was quiet. "What do you mean Abu?"

Abu laughed and turned to Jamal. "A sacrifice has to be made for the completion of the rites.. Or else he will remain this way forever, tied to the present with nothing from the past"

"You speak in parables Abu, enlighten us more" one of the elders said.

"Go on" Abu said to Forbes.

"Jamal was cursed right from birth.." Forbes started, murmurs arose and Jamal stood up in shock.

"I was cursed?" Jamal asked shakily.

"Sit down back and stay silent till he finishes" Abu ordered.

Jamal slowly sank back into his seat while Forbes continued. "He was cursed by Naja a winter witch because of his mother and my wrongdoings to the witch, he was cursed to be emotionless" Forbes paused, trying not to break down before the council.

"We searched endlessly for a cure but could not find one until now, unfortunately the cure happened to be A Sheba, the witch's daughter"

"Say no .more your highness" Abu said and stepped forward. "The prince and this same maiden was entangled in an affair before he went unconscious, because of her love for him she performed part of the rites to heal him except one and so now the prince lost his memories and it can only be retrieved by the final rites" Abu concluded.

"This maiden, is her name Sarafina?" Jamal asked.

"Yes , Sarafina daughter of Naja and Salmar"

"Salmar.. The same Salmar we know?" An Elder asked.

"Yes..."

"So what is the final rites, the prince can't rule the province without his memories intact" Maximus who has been quiet since the beginning of the meeting asked.

Abu faced Maximus who had a sly smile playing on his lips. "Even our enemies are dining with us, yet we smile and laugh with them.. We are humans" Abu said directly to Maximus, he then turned back to the council. "Like I said earlier, a sacrifice has to be made before or on the festival of the rain which is in two days time"

"By sacrifice do you mean the Sheba" Maximus asked again.

Abu shook his head inwardly, they were all slow witted that they couldn't even understand a simple sentence yet he nodded, let them think what they want, Ashra knows it all. "Yes the Sheba" he affirmed and vanished before their very eyes.

"Does this mean we have to sacrifice the Sheba?" Elder Vikel asked.

"Obviously" Maximus replied, he didn't have to do anything she would be sacrificed after all.

"Then let us start making preparations for the sacrifice, isn't that right my king" another Elder asked Forbes who was just sitting transfixed, why would he have to sacrifice her after everything that she had passed through, yet he has no choice.

"Yes, we would have the palace guards retrieve her from her home she would be brought and kept Iin the sacred room till the day after tomorrow where she would be sacrificed to appease Ashra on behalf of the prince" Forbes stated.

"Very well the....." Maximus started to say but Jamal stood up immediately.

"Nobody is Sacrificing Sarafina, and anybody that takes her against her own will, I swear on behalf of my forefathers I won't hesitate to have a dagger rooted deep into his heart" Jamal yelled and stormed our of the palace furiously.

The elders stared at the entrance in shock. "What are we doing now"

"Go after the prince!!" Forbes yelled to the guards.

"We have to sacrifice her no matter what or else Jamal won't be fit to be king" Maximus stated.

The other elders nodded in agreement, Maximus grinned widely, with Sarafina out of the picture.. He could get the throne very easily.

* * *

SARAFINA.

"Fina! Fina!" Pooja yelled slamming the door shut as she entered, her voice sounded frantic so I dropped the potatoes I was peeling and rushed out of the kitchen.

"Hey, what's wrong" she was breathing heavily so she tried to steady her breath then she moved closer to me and pulled me back into the kitchen. I got confused.

"Fina, they are coming for you" she finally said. I didn't understand her, who is coming for me and why?.

"What are you talking about?"

"The council meeting, it went off the grid, The diviner was there and he said for Jamal to be completely whole you have to be sacrificed" she said in one breath.

I stared at her for a while before I then threw my head back in laughter. I stopped laughing and looked back at her. "Wait, you are not joking are you?"

"Do I look like I'm joking Sarafina? Maximus is leading the guards down here, they are going to take you to the sacred room, and you will be sacrificed at the festival of the rain which is in two days time" Pooja replied me with so much fear.

Me? Sacrifice? For Jamal? "They can't take me against my own will, I'm the Sheba remember?" I assured her.

"You don't get it do you? You have to...." Her sentence was interrupted by the sudden banging on the door.

"They are here..." She muttered shakily. I smiled.

"Come with me" I stepped out and opened the door, truly Maximus and six palace guards were standing at the door, some palace workers had stopped to watch the scene. I smiled again, let's see how fit they are.

"Hello Maximus, it is a pleasure seeing you again isn't it.. Especially at my front door, don't you think this is the work of fate" I said stepping into the open after shutting the door behind me.

Maximus grinned and stepped back. "Right Sarafina, it is a pleasure meeting you but I don't think this is the work of fate... Anyway the king has ordered that you be brought to his presence thus instant" he stated.

"Ha, for the sacrifice right... I heard about that but don't you think this is so surprising?" I stepped closer to him. "When have you ever taken orders from King Forbes, Prince Maximus" I whispered into his hearing alone and stepped back smiling sweetly at him.

He turned nervously around trying to make sure nobody heard then he turned back at me. "You slime witch!" He gritted out quietly but angrily.

"Seize her!" He yelled to the guards and they all rushed forward to me.

"Easy babies", I muttered and then controlling them with my eyes I threw them backwards. They all landed like ten feet away from us. I smirked at Maximus. "There you go, Prince Maximus" I said.

His eyes was blazing furiously as he stepped back.

"Sarafina !" That was Jamal, he was already behind Maximus. He stepped to my front shoving Maximus out of the way. "Sarafina.." He cupped my cheeks, his eyes were glassy as if he had been crying.

"Sarafina you have to leave, I don't want the sacrifice please don't agree just go somewhere faraway, where no one can find you" he said.

I smiled. "What if I want yo do thus for you?"

"No! You won't, you won't do it, I like myself without the memories just leave Zedora please!"

"Step away from her Jamal" Maximus said from behind. Jamal didn't reply instead he held on to me, I gave him a reassuring smile and pushed his hands off me.. He moved back, the guards were back again.

I grabbed Pooja's hand and created a mist before the both if us, obstructing the view of the other people. "Pooja, we are going to my mother's clan" I said.

"Winter island?"

"Winter island" I affirmed. "Close your eyes and don't open it until I tell you to do so" I held her hands firmly and willed us into winter island.

"Open it now" I told her and she did.

"How did... Oh what.." She looked at me and back at where we had materialized, we were in the middle of a deserted garden.

"Isn't that a cottage?"

I looked at where she pointed her finger and truly it was a cottage. "Let's go there if we could manage it for the next two days"

"Two days? Don't tell me you... You are going back to Zedora?"

"On the festival of the rain, I will be there"

* * *

JAMAL.

She left.

The mist cleared and she was no more there, I sighed in relief and turned to Maximus, my uncle, he was probably burning in rage.

Why does he want the sacrifice that much, for as little as I can remember he never really liked me.

"You bunch of incompetent fools, search the whole house!" He yelled at the guards. They rushed fearfully inside.

"It is no use, you can't find her there, she created a mist to fool you.. Do you think she will hide in there?" I asked with sarcasm.

Maximus scowled angrily. "You made her leave right! Do you know you can't be king because she left, you are only playing with your place"

"If I won't be king then who will? Jafar? Isn't that what you really want dearest uncle?"

"She is not in there" one of the guards said when they came back out, I smirked triumphantly.

"Check the nook and crannies of the whole province! Don't come back home until you find her!— and you.." He turned to me. "You sure as hell won't sit on that throne, I tell you.."

"Well, I think you would either be six feet beneath the ground or maybe in the darkest dungeon when I ascend the throne with Sarafina as my bride Prince Maximus!" I stated icily and stormed off.

* * *

Maximus cracked his knuckles angrily, she had left.. She had slipped from his hands right before his very eyes just like her mother.

Arrgh!" He groaned kicking away anything that was in his way, that witch does not know him.. He would go to any length to have anything he wanted.

But first he has to put his first plan in motion. Kidnap princess Ditya.

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